Testis single-cell RNA-sequencing in the cynomolgus macaque reveals conserved transcriptional profiles during mammalian spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis in mammals is a complex and highly orchestrated process, which involves the differentiation of diploid (2n-DNA content) spermatogonia into haploid (n) sperm. This process begins with spermatogonia, a niche of stem cells, which drive this process. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) undergo mitotic self-renewal to maintain this niche, while sub-populations of spermatogonia progressively undergo differentiation and later gain competence to initiate meiosis and form sperm. SSCs undergo extensive chromatin remodelling and major morphological changes, while maintaining genome integrity and parental imprints. To study this in greater detail we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of spermatogenic cells derived from the testis of the non-human primate Macaca fascicularis.